Draft minutes of the Blaengwrach Community Council held at St. Mary`s Church Hall, Blaengwrach at 6.30pm on Thursday 14th February 2019:
PRESENT:
Councillor Carolyn Edwards (Chair); Councillor Menna Mortimore (Deputy Chair); Councillor Julia Hippsley; Councillor Philippa Richards; Councillor Rhian Williams; Councillor Andrew Hippsley;
Also present: Clive Baker – Clerk to the Council (There were no members of the public present);
142/18 – APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:
Councillors Bethan Parry, Amanda Doherty, Rhian Watts & Chris Kelly had sent their apologies;
143/18 – DECLARATION(s) of INTEREST:
Councillor Carolyn Edwards declared her interest as a County Councillor of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council;
144/18 – CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 10th JANUARY 2019 AS A TRUE RECORD OF THAT MEETING:
The minutes of the above meeting were accepted as a true record. Proposed by Councillor Menna Mortimore & seconded by Councillor Philippa Richards;
145/18 – MATTERS ARISING & AGENDA ITEMS:
a) Parking in Heol Y Felin – NPTCBC will decide on what they propose to do in this street in April 2019;
b) The Welfare Park Project – The contractors will start the project in late April 2019 (after the school`s Easter break) with a view to finishing by mid-July 2019 (before the school summer holidays). They had visited the Park yesterday to check their measurements etc. & will contact the Clerk & Chair to arrange an “on-site” meeting before they “break ground”. NOTE: IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT FOR HEALTH & SAFETY REASONS THE BOTTOM OF THE PARK WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE ACCESSED BY THE PUBLIC WHILST THE CONTRACTORS ARE CARRYING OUT THE WORK;
c) Adopting the Light Highlighting “The Witch” – There will be no update available on this item until at least April 2019;
d) Dog Mess in the Village – The NPTCBC Dog Warden has attended and “noted” the extent of the problem. They will attend on a regular basis in future to monitor. The Council agreed to purchase “dog bags” for use by dog owners and that when they have been purchased can be picked up in the Premier Stores, High Street. NOTE: OWNERS CAN BE FINED UP TO £1,000.00 BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR NOT CLEANING UP AFTER THEIR DOG(S);
e) Agenda Item 5a – Christmas 2019 Celebrations & Organisation – It was decided that the date 9f the celebration for 2019 will be Saturday 30th November; the Council will retain Centregreat Ltd to supply & dress the Christmas Tree; that WAFERS will be requested to supply the sleigh for Santa with the procession to start at 4pm & arrive at the Welfare Hall at 4.30pm; that Councillor Rhian Williams research the costs & availability of a Local Children`s Entertainer and report back to the Council in the March meeting; that the supplies (food & drinks) will be picked up in mid-November & that the Clerk arrange for the gift for the children be ordered to be picked up by the Council in Mid-November;
146/18 – PLANNING:
24/01/2019 – Euro Garages Ltd – P2018/0616 – Submission of details relating to Condition 7 (HGV Scheme), Condition 13 (Traffic Regulation Order) & Condition 14 (Pedestrian/Cycle/Vehicular Access) of Planning Application P2017/0112 granted on 8th June 2017 for a Petrol Station & associated work on Land between the A465 and High Street, Blaengwrach, Neath SA11 5NZ; 24/01/2019 – Euro Garages Ltd – P2019/0067 – Non-material amendment to Condition 7 (HGV Scheme) & Condition 14 (Traffic Regulation Order) of Planning Application P2017/0112 granted on 8th June 2017 to vary the wording from pre-commencement conditions to prior to first operation for a Petrol Station & associated work on Land between the A465 & High Street, Blaengwrach, Neath SA11 5NZ;
147/18 – CRIME & POLICING:
The reported crime figures for the Blaengwrach/Cwmgwrach area for December 2018 were 4 (four), broken down as follows:
1 Criminal Damage & Arson & 3 Violent and Sexual Offences.
The next PACT meeting will take place in the Bethania Community Centre, High Street, Glynneath at 6.30pm on Wednesday 6th March 2019. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ALL WELCOME TO ATTEND;
148/18 – FINANCE:
For period 11/01/2019 to 14/02/2019:
PAYMENTS MADE:
HMRC – Tax on Salary of the Clerk – £91.20; Councillors Allowance for 2018-2019 x 4 – £600.00; Welsh Water – Water Rates on Cemetery – £30.50; Welsh Water – Water Rates on Welfare Hall – £126.00;
INCOME RECEIVED:
Hall Hire Fees – £462.00; Aberpergwm Colliery Community Grant (towards the Welfare Park Project) – £3,000.00; NPTCBC Members Fund Grant (towards the Welfare Park Project) – £5,000.00;
149/18 – CORRESPONDENCE:
11/01/2019 from Age Cymru – Request for Donation under Section 137 Grant; 11/01/2019 from Marie Currie (South Wales) – Request for Donation under Section 137 Grant; 15/01/2019 from The Older Peoples Commissioner for Wales – Notice of an on-line consultation on Improving the Quality of Life of Older People in Wales; 24/01/2019 from NPTCBC, Engineering & Transport Department – Notice of changes to Local Bus Services w.e.f. 4th March 2019; 8/02/2019 from Llangollen 2019 – Request for a Donation towards the 2019 Llangollen International Eisteddfod under Section 137 Grant;
THE REQUESTS FOR DONATIONS UNDER SECTION 137 WERE DISCUSSED & IT WAS DECIDED NOT TO AWARD ANY GRANTS TO THE ABOVE APPLICANTS AS NONE OF THEM ARE SEEN TO BE CARRYING OUT ANY SPECIFIC WORK/SERVICE IN THE BLAENGWRACH/CWMGWRACH WARD;
150/18 – COMMITTEE REPORTS:
There were no Committee reports at this meeting;
151/18 – MATTERS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS:
a) It was reported that some names seem to be missing from the Remembrance Board in the Welfare Hall. The Clerk will search the records in the office and if nothing can be found will liaise with the Local British Legion to see if they have any knowledge of the missing names and how these can be added to the “Honour Board”, if found;
b) Several Councillors asked about Grit Boxes for use by the public in snowy/frosty weather, especially in Heol Wenallt & Fothergill Road. Councillor Carolyn Edwards will speak to NPTCBC, Streetcare to see if be can be supplied for use on the pavements in this area;
c) A question was posed regarding the 2019 Armed Forces Day and it was stated that a local individual had expressed an interest in helping to set up & run any celebration. The Clerk will contact the individual to arrange a meeting with them (the Chair & at least one other Councillor will attend) to see in what form the celebration will take and that if any grants towards possible costs can be applied for. A representative of the Local British Legion will also be invited to attend.
152/18 – DATE, TIME, VENUE & PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING:
The next meeting will take place at 6,30pm on Thursday 14th March 2019 at St.Mary`s Church Hall. There were no proposed agenda items put forward at this time.
The meeting closed at 7.28pm.